Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force

The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force (C-LRS) () is the highest-ranking officer of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force. He reports directly to the Chief of the Defence (CDS).

Before being renamed to C-LRS in Dutch on 1 June 2025 due to the addition of a space force to the air force, the position of C-LSK (Commandant Luchtstrijdkrachten) was head of the air force. The position of C-LSK had been in use since 5 September 2005 as part of a reorganization within the Dutch Ministry of Defence in which staff were reduced in size and an entire organizational layer was dropped. Before this reform the commanding officer of the Air Force was called .

The Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force is statutorily a lieutenant general and is the head of the Air and Space Force Command (CLRS). They are responsible for preparation, operational command and completion of Air and Space Force operations. In addition, at the request of the CDS, the C-LRS can take joint-command of air operations carried out together with other branches of the Dutch armed forces or foreign militaries, and render support to civilian authorities (foreign and domestic) to maintain the rule of law, combat disasters, provide humanitarian aid, transport patients and firefighting.

List of officeholders

1954–2005 () 1954–1956 Anton Baretta 1956–1961 Heije Schaper 1961–1965 Hein Zielstra 1965–1970 Bertie Wolff 1970–1973 Flip van der Wolf 1973–1976 Hans Knoop 1976–1981 Rien Geschiere 1981–1985 Cas Baas 1985–1989 Fred de Jong 1989–1992 Willy Cornelis Louwerse 1992–1995 Heinz Manderfeld 1995–2000 Ben Droste 2000–2004 Dick Berlijn 2004–2005 Dirk Starink

PortraitNameTerm of office Took office Left office Time in office Commander of the Air Force 1 Lieutenant-GeneralHans de Jong 5 September 2005 29 May 2008 2 Lieutenant-GeneralJac Jansen 29 May 2008 9 March 2012 3 Lieutenant-GeneralSander Schnitger 9 March 2012 10 June 2016 4 Lieutenant-GeneralDennis Luyt 10 June 2016 14 April 2023 5 Lieutenant-GeneralAndré Steur 14 April 2023 1 July 2025 Commander of the Air and Space Force 1 Lieutenant-GeneralAndré Steur 1 July 2025 Incumbent

See also Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy

References

External links Commandant Lucht-en Ruimtestrijdkrachten on the website of the Dutch Ministry of Defence.